Quick Bites: Every Night is Wine Night

Wine dinners and restaurant-hosted tastings have been popping up like tulips all over town lately. Whether you are a certified cork dork or just simply

Wine dinners and restaurant-hosted tastings have been popping up like tulips all over town lately. Whether you are a certified cork dork or just simply enjoy that glass of house red, you are sure to be satisfied. At one end of the spectrum are the casual after-work tastings offered by Blacksmith and Allyson's Kitchen. These events cost $10 and typically focus on a themed flight of 6 - 8 wines of similar style and origin. I attended Blacksmith's most recent event last Wednesday, hosted by sommelier Kevin Gilman, which focused on big Washington reds. No doubt about it, these were opulent, girthy wines with broad appeal and availability, and which spanned a reasonable price range. Their tasting notes were right on target, which made the experience accessible and easy.My favorite part about this was the open, social atmosphere, where folks could mill around and talk wine, or not, at a very leisurely pace. At the other end of the spectrum are the truly remarkable dining experiences offered by Jen's Garden, Bistro Corlise, and Chow, where multiple courses are provided with paired wines. These range in price from around $65 per person to over $100, depending on the level of extravagance. I was fortunate enough to attend one at Bistro Corlise last month that left my lips smacking for days. It was themed toward southwestern France, and presented beautiful and unusual regional dishes and wines, such as a lamb tongue daube with a glass of 19-year old malbec from Cahors. This was truly stunning stuff. Jen's Garden chef T.R. McCrystal described his upcoming wine dinner: old world vs. new, comprising a six-course meal paired with white and red wines from Bordeaux, Burgundy, and our own Pacific Northwest. T.R. reminded me that "every night is a wine dinner" at such high-caliber restaurants. True enough, although if you are an avid foodie and can spare the quid, taking in a showcase wine dinner, when the menu has received some extra attention, is an experience not to be missed! Watch for advertisements and flyers, but I suggest calling your favorite venue to make sure you catch the good ones. - Tom Rodhouse

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The Source Issue 45 (Nov. 10) contained wonderful information about the forms of yoga offered in our vicinity. Most of the information covered pertained to the socially enjoyable forms of yoga enjoyed by the folks who use yoga mats and bendy posturing as they concentrate on improving their blissful breathing techniques. These physical forms of yoga are the beautiful compliments to the mental, mindful and meditative forms of yoga that balance the larger yoga (yogic) equation.
Yoga is basically a non-denominational practice aimed at balancing the physical (body) existence with the meta-physical (mind) reality. The ensuing mind-body balance creates the union required for an increased "understanding" (consciousness) of the "living experience."

In the time-honored American tradition of peaceful civil disobedience, I am proud to be one of eight Central Oregon citizens arrested on December 5 in Congressman Greg Walden's Bend office.
At our January 26 trial we plan to present a compelling defense.
This act of dissent follows years of futile attempts to encourage the Congressman to hold open, unscripted town meetings accessible to a majority of his constituents.
The Congressman has grown so suspicious of impromptu encounters with ordinary citizens that on Saturday he required a Bend Police Department intervention that enabled him to enter the Water Project meeting at the Chamber of Commerce through the back door. (Greg, we are nonviolent people who believe that democracy thrives on open dialogue and transparency; there is no reason to avoid us.)

I had to respond to "What's Wrong with Siri," (News, 1-4) since Apple's Siri isn't the problem.
Three hours before I read, "What's wrong with Siri," I went to a store in town and complimented the cashier that this was the nicest "dollar" store I had ever been in.